Progressive House candidate responds to criticism over past comments about Black Dems

[lapucelle]

Progressive House candidate responds to criticism over past comments about Black Dems

William Lawrence, a progressive running in the Democratic primary for the U.S. House in Michigan, is responding to backlash over his previous criticism of Black political leaders.

The Huffington Post on Saturday published Lawrence’s comments from a 2024 episode of his podcast, in which the Democrat accused some Black lawmakers of being “a pillar, frankly, for establishment, capitalist, imperialist American power.”

“It’s a big problem for left politics in this country, and it gets us every single time,” Lawrence said in the episode. “It really defangs the white left and puts us in impossible positions, really.”

The Democratic candidate addressed this comment in a social media statement on Saturday, saying his words were “taken out of context.” “The way I made this point was clumsy, and I regret my choice of words,” he said. “I understand the potential impact when received out of context. The way the story is being reported does not reflect my beliefs.”

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5964228-progressive-house-candidate-responds-to-criticism-over-past-comments-about-black-dems/

=================================

The HuffPo story includes the full quote in context:

“The extent to which the older generation of Black political leadership are such a pillar, frankly, for establishment, capitalist, imperialist American power through their role as this kind of traditionalist, establishment-ist pillar of the Democratic Party, it’s a big problem,” Lawrence said around the 41:48 mark of the podcast. “It’s a big problem for left politics in this country. And it gets us every single time. It really defangs the white left and puts us in impossible positions, really.”

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/surging-progressive-once-said-black-democratic-leaders-defang-the-white-left_n_6a51a01ae4b084b03f7f0f6d

[lapucelle]

1. Congressional Black Caucus PAC response

Link to tweet

[Cha]

22. Ugh! Glad h's getting well deserved "Backlash" for

for his stupid remarks.

[lapucelle]

2. Emily's List response:

[sheshe2]

3. My comments "were taken out of context!!!"

Um-kay. The old "taken out of context" canard.

[lapucelle]

6. Buzzfeed did a deep dive into allegations of tokenization in the Sunrise Movement.

Inside “The Very Secret History” Of The Sunrise Movement

Internal memos show that activists of color within the Sunrise Movement have privately alleged mistreatment for years — as the climate group publicly fought for racial justice.

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/zahrahirji/sunrise-movement-climate-change-black-activists

[fujiyamasan]

79. I knew there was a reason I didn't trust those clowns

Thanks for posting this

[mcar]

15. "That's not who I am"

Always the same stupid excuses.

[MustLoveBeagles]

4. This is a problem

[WhiskeyGrinder]

5. A lot of people with very different perspectives see what they want to see in these stories, I think.

[lapucelle]

8. William Lawrence certainly saw what he wanted to see, and it is a different perspective.

I'll give you that.

[T]he older generation of Black political leadership are such a pillar, frankly, for establishment, capitalist, imperialist American power through their role as this kind of traditionalist, establishment-ist pillar of the Democratic Party, it’s a big problem,

It’s a big problem for left politics in this country. And it gets us every single time. It really defangs the white left and puts us in impossible positions, really.”

[yardwork]

93. He sounds immature.

This kid complaining about older Black politicians and throwing all these catch phrases at them, when he has absolutely no clue what they endured and fought to achieve.

The people he's complaining about literally saved our democracy, for all of us.

It's almost hard to get mad at him. I feel like laughing at the little toddler who learned big words from bad influences.

I hope he loses his primary, returns to grassroots activism, and learns more. I'm sure he's a decent person who can learn and grow.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

108. I want to be clear that I'm not a fan of the Sunrise Movement. But the quotes that you're posting weren't just him

riffing on a podcast by himself. He was in conversation with Khury Petersen-Smith, a young Black activist who responded with the quote you've posted with this:

That said you’re raising a really sharp question, which is, there’s the role that a small, but very visible section of black America has found its niche within you’ve got like Eric Adams running New York City, which is wild for many reasons. But yeah, what does it mean when that’s the black mayor who is absolutely the vehicle for some of the most horrific expansion of policing and surveillance.

He is a conduit and a voice for a kind of democratic party version of the anti immigrant politics. It’s a disaster. So that’s a reality. And then there’s this, the question of the kind of traditional or legacy organizations of the Civil Rights movement, which and there has been, there’s less of a conversation about it now, but earlier in the Black Lives Matter experience, there was a conversation about tensions between the keep in mind or, let’s remember that Black Lives Matter emerged under Obama actually, right?

It's like, Trayvon Martin was murdered under Obama.

There are young/old and progressive/centrist splits in most movements and factions right now, and when it comes to the movements of people who have been dealing with different oppressions on top of straight Democratic politics, it's even more complicated. The debate about "respectability politics" in Black circles is a big one. That's what this discussion was about.

[yardwork]

109. I would be inclined to agree with you except there's a larger pattern.

As I wrote elsewhere in this thread there's a pattern that indicates an outside influence that is anything but benign to democracy.

Things got weird when Trump rode that gold escalator in 2015, and they've stayed weird.

We've had eleven years to see the pattern and it's clearer than ever. We don't have to look far for the culprits.

There is more wealth in the hands of a few people than anyone can imagine. Literally unimaginable wealth in the hands of a few people who have proven - through their business practices alone - to be unethical, self-centered individuals. (To put it mildly.) They see the data around global warming - the chaos ahead, water scarcity, not enough resources. Naturally they are thinking of themselves.

Goal - break up western democracies, break alliances, turn people against each other, then swoop in and take it all.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

110. Marx wasn't wrong when he talked about the inherent contradictions of capitalism and I believe there are inherent

contradictions in the American form of democracy itself, simply because it's built upon a white supremacy. No outside influence necessary.

[yardwork]

111. We certainly have cracks to exploit.

Maybe no outside influence was necessary but it's clear to me that there IS outside influence.

Maybe the self-destruction would have happened anyway, but it's certainly being helped along. And every effort to fix things gets blocked.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

112. "And every effort to fix things gets blocked."

The way I see it, that's the white supremacy. A lot of white people (and a lot of people who aren't white!) are willing to live worse, shorter, more expensive lives by defeating programs and benefits that would help everyone, if it means that Black people don't get anything too.

[yardwork]

114. That is the fundamental problem in the U.S.

[lapucelle]

113. There's nothing progressive about a young white guy claiming that Black imperialists are the problem,

and there's nothing *centrist* about older Black leaders like Jim Clyburn. At this point it seems like the *debate* is between co-opters of the progressive label versus liberal Democrats more so than anything else.

I mean, geez, we just got rid of a racist with a Nazi tattoo who claimed he was a progressive.

As for the debate about Black "respectability politics", is it really appropriate for a white guy like Lawrence to be leading the discussion?

[WhiskeyGrinder]

115. .

There's nothing progressive about a young white guy claiming that Black imperialists are the problem, and there's nothing *centrist* about older Black leaders like Jim Clyburn.

I agree it's not a great look, but I do feel that the HuffPost framing is doing a lot of work on that look. That's all.

At this point it seems like the *debate* is between co-opters of the progressive label versus liberal Democrats more so than anything else.

There are definitely folks who look for those labels and markers instead of what people actually do.

I mean, geez, we just got rid of a racist with a Nazi tattoo who claimed he was a progressive.

You and I were on the same page with that particular motherfucker.

As for the debate about Black "respectability politics", is it really appropriate for a white guy like Lawrence to be leading the discussion?

I'm a fan of people having those kinds of conversations, because that's how we learn. I think you and I could probably disagree as to how they were having that discussion. (Who was leading it, whether they agreed to touch on this topic before recording started, whether a podcast is the most effective/useful place to have that conversation, etc.)

[JustAnotherGen]

119. It is not

He needs to sit down and mind his manners.

[BannonsLiver]

41. Uh huh.

[JustAnotherGen]

101. How you experience Amerikkka

Determines one's perspective I guess.

[AloeVera]

7. Platner 2.0. Here we go again.

What do these two have in common politically? Hmmm....let's see.



:

[lapucelle]

9. You told me that you put me on ignore.

[sheshe2]

24. Oh, snap!

[MorbidButterflyTat]

49. .

[MineralMan]

95. Busted!

[JustAnotherGen]

103. I've no idea

What this is about -

But Platner should be a cautionary tale for all Far Leftists.

[lapucelle]

10. Is this the common element? They both said / wrote terrible things about Black people

and then apologized when they got caught.

[Boo1]

13. The question should be

why does a that common politic keep having issues with black people and jews.

[mcar]

17. Yeah here we go again

Another white male progressive with red flags.

[AloeVera]

25. I don't think the flag in question is red. N/t

[mcar]

31. Then what is it? nt

[AloeVera]

51. It's the colour of a weaponized nothing-burger.

[RandySF]

63. Translation

DSA=AOK. You can say and do whatever you want just like Republicans.

[Sympthsical]

84. Not DSA. Israel.

Israel is the only issue, always and forever. Sure, there's a lot of crossover with the DSA - they unfortunately attract a type that confounds many of their issues I support.

But people who bounced into online existence on October 8th don't give a shit about progressivism. Just find the candidate who hates Israel most.

I'll admit, I was hoping for more subtlety than how unabashed it is. Clearly there are background J . . . sorry, Zionists . . . concocting scandals as we speak.

I saw people on Reddit asking if Platner's accuser was a Zionist. That is the world we live in now.

[Behind the Aegis]

85. First they came for...

...Well, I am guessing, with the exception of a few, going after Black Democratic voters will be a non-starter. I could be wrong, especially how quickly some jettisoned "Believe Women".

Our tribe has been busy this week, I am sure you heard Mossad Agent, Lionel Messi, was involved thru the direction of the Zionist entity, Israel, to allow Argentina to defeat Egypt in the Copa Mundial. And, no, I am NOT kidding!

[Sympthsical]

86. Oh, it's a whole thing

There are people in Egypt who are completely bugfuck about Messi.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/lionel-messis-ostensibly-controversial-history-with-jewish-and-israeli-life-spoiler-hes-catholic/

[sheshe2]

27. There is one common denominator that keeps popping up.

Hmmm.

[mcar]

32. I have no hope that the backers of these people will ever learn, she

[sheshe2]

46. Sadly true, mcar.

[AloeVera]

39. Oh I agree, but I don't think we're talking about the same one.

Lawrence calls for a weapons embargo on Israel - no more military sales to Israel. Not just the elimination of taxpaxer-funded military aid. An embargo. Just like Platner.

What are you referring to?

[sheshe2]

55. ...

[AloeVera]

57. Ok.

[lapucelle]

94. What's Trumpier than a white man complaining that Black people are standing in his very entitled way?

[yardwork]

98. Exactly!

[Quiet Em]

71. Most people in this country, at least most Democrats and left leaning people, are not happy with the Israeli Government

But most people who are Democratic or left leaning are also not defending rapists and racists running for office in our own country either.

[yardwork]

89. This is the crucial point.

[AloeVera]

96. If the defense of the slaughter of brown Muslim children is not racist I don't know what is.

I am opposed to actual racism not a manufactured one to score political points against a perceived threat.

[yardwork]

100. Who is defending the slaughter of children?

Meanwhile, who is opposing Russia's attacks on Ukrainian children?

Who is opposing attacks on children in Africa?

Do you agree that the U.S. should stay completely out of foreign defense? Let bullies attack any country they want?

If so, what about the U.S. government's attack on brown children via ICE? Should we speak up about that?

[betsuni]

48. "I said 'Black' 50 times!" just popped into my head.

[Quiet Em]

67. Yup. It's becoming a pattern and it's starting to seem like it's intentional.

[Cha]

26. Planter's a Sexual woman abuser, and Sanders

asked him to step aside.

What's Lawrence got to do with that?

[AloeVera]

68. See post #39. Nt

[EX500rider]

52. They both said stupid stuff that came back to bite them on the ass?

[RandySF]

61. May the far left has a problem.

[Quiet Em]

66. They are both flawed and probematic men who run as Democrats?

Why do flawed men like this keep getting propped up? Who's behind it?

[AloeVera]

70. Here we go, it's starting. Lawrence is "flawed".

And on it goes.

Sigh.

Have at it, I'm going to sleep.

[Quiet Em]

72. I was going easy on him.

He's more than flawed.

That's the nicest thing I can say .

[Quiet Em]

73. sleep on it, but when you wake up ask yourself why to think an ass like this is helpful in any way

[betsuni]

80. Something about U.S. Middle East foreign policy being the most important single issue, apparently.

[Quiet Em]

81. And it's getting really old and ridiculous

I can't take it seriously anymore. It's a very poor excuse for pushing bullshit at this point.

I don't know anyone who doesn't feel sympathy for Palestinians but also is ok with rapists and racists.

[betsuni]

83. Top anti-Democratic attacks 2028:

Gaza (warmongers! immoral! AIPAC!)

Campaign contributions (corrupt! corporatist! can't be progressive because bought! PAC PAC PAC AIPAC!)

Medicare for All (against universal health care! corrupt! immoral! want people to die in gutter alone! AIPAC!)

The attackers say it's all about economic issues and pretend there's a huge ideological gap between them and the Democratic Party but they campaign negatively, attacking the character of Democrats. Not about policy because there are no policy goal differences.

Recently heard the progressive establishment doing the very old Democrats-corrupt-becuase-they-use-money-for-campaigns routine and notice it now includes consultants in with all other corrupting influences. Thought of political consultant Tad Devine and his $5 million payout working for a certain campaign.

[yardwork]

102. Keep asking who benefits.

Keep asking where the money comes from.

Keep asking why these "activists" never ever mention Ukraine.

[LexVegas]

11. Has Bernie endorsed this guy? nt

[lapucelle]

12. Yup. N/T

[PufPuf23]

35. Jamie Raskin recently endorsed William Lawrence. nt

[LeftInTX]

47. Ugh...This is a seat that is currently held by the GOP.

He has about the same chance that Maureen Galindo had of winning a general election.
Galindo was funded by the GOP and the GOP was caught.
The GOP wanted Galindo. However, prior to the revelations about the GOP and her crazy antisemitism, all sorts of Democrats were endorsing Maureen.
I bet this guy is funded by the GOP too.

Sex therapist accused of antisemitism loses Democratic runoff for Texas House seat
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/26/garcia-wins-texas-house-runoff-00937479

[mcar]

14. Defangs the white left?

What. The. Fuck?

[lapucelle]

19. You see, the real problem is that Black imperialists are defanging white leftists.

[mcar]

20. Won't somebody help the poor, poor white men?

Haven't they suffered enough?

[Cha]

38. They love to play the victim... see

Planter for major victimhood.

Or not!

[betsuni]

74. Republican voters think whites face the most discrimination, have fewer advantages.

Pessimism and anger about economic status and the government. Blaming liberal Democrats. The populist alliance that will bring on the revolution.

[Boo1]

82. Horseshoe threory

the far left and right have more in common with each other than the middle.

It's just like MAGA. The candidate hates the same people they hate, so whatever else they do is fine.

[lapucelle]

92. Like Platner, Lawrence is a white man who grew up in affluence and centers himself.

Unlike Platner, whose racism is odiously casual, Lawrence's racism is deliberative and thought through.

In Platner, we had a pompous ass playing into a racist stereotype. In Lawrence we have a pseudo-intellectual aggrieved white savior dismissing the legacy, agency, intellect, and hard fought victories of Black Democratic leaders because those Black leaders present an imagined obstacle for white people like him.

But in the end, both Platner and Lawrence are so racist that they don't even think they being racist when they say racist things.

[yardwork]

97. I think it's time to start looking at influences.

Lawrence co-founded the Sunrise Movement, which started out focused on environmentalism and justice. I think the kid was sincere.

But in the past ten years - paralleling Trump's rise to power - all these grass-roots organizations started acting different. They got bigger, fast. Their attention turned away from activism focused on their own communities and became focused on things that benefit Vlad Putin and other billionaires.

It's pretty easy to connect the dots. The money came from somewhere and it wasn't $5 donations. I think that most of the candidates running under these flags don't even know how their organizations have been taken over. I'm sure they they would be indignant at the suggestion.

But if we step back and look at the overall pattern it seems clear to me.

One marker: for all the calls we hear against Israel, how often do we hear complaints about Russian attacks on Ukraine? Crickets. Who does that benefit?

[lapucelle]

107. Buzzfeed did a deep dive into allegations of racism in the Sunrise Movement.

It's eye-opening.

Inside “The Very Secret History” Of The Sunrise Movement

Internal memos show that activists of color within the Sunrise Movement have privately alleged mistreatment for years — as the climate group publicly fought for racial justice.

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/zahrahirji/sunrise-movement-climate-change-black-activists

[Skittles]

29. HUGE.RED.FLAG.

seriously

[yardwork]

16. Black voters save our democracy over and over.

We owe them everything.

[mcar]

18. This!

[MustLoveBeagles]

28. They do

[Skittles]

30. I'll never forget the Black Caucus standing up to Dubya being awarded the presidency by the SC

and they STOOD ALONE

[MustLoveBeagles]

62. I was cheering them on

[Skittles]

75. I WAS TOO

I was SO impressed - and they were SO RIGHT, LOOK WHERE WE ARE NOW

[betsuni]

21. I remember those types saying Black Democratic voters have Stockholm syndrome.

Voting against their economic class interests (crafty Democrats fool them with identity politics). Maybe it's something like that. There was an infamous post here.

[sheshe2]

44. Pretty sure that was Manny Goldstein that posted that crap.

Remember him? He was a racist SOB.

[betsuni]

54. I think it was WillyT, but Third Way Manny mocking Obama was also garbage, yet so popular.

Garbage is too often quite popular.

[sheshe2]

60. I believe you are right, betsuni.

I heard it said that one keeps making his way back here.

[MineralMan]

99. Never did get along with Manny.

Nope. I notice, though, that you and I are still here, and he is not.

[sheshe2]

106. True...

though it was not for the lack of trying.

[electric_blue68]

23. Ohhhh, boy, dude....

Last edited Sun Jul 12, 2026, 12:10 AM - Edit history (2)

Consideing....
•Black politicians have had to fight over many decades to gain power by seniority or just to get elected.

•The first defanging of the VRA in '11, or '13 by taking away the requirement that several troublesome States had to submit their redistricting maps for approval.

•Now the full evisceration of the VRA just recently which had several Southern [surprise!] States to jump up and in one try to eliminate a second Black representated district, and orher stuff to eliminate Black representation in States where they are 30% - 40% of the population?

•And why be going after Black officials when some white politicians have the same?

[corrected typo, and gramnar]

[MustLoveBeagles]

33. After what happened with Platner

I'm in no mood to give the benefit of the doubt. The full quote doesn't make it any better. This comment is appalling period.

[Skittles]

34. yup

if there is a lesson to be learned, it is this: WHEN PEOPLE SHOW YOU WHO THEY ARE, BELIEVE THEM

[MustLoveBeagles]

58. I was a Platner skeptic who softened and became a supporter

Then it blew up in my face. I'm learning to trust my instincts.

[niyad]

36. Guess what, bill. The whole quote, in context, is even MORE

offensive. Clumsy?? No. Stream of consciousness, perhaps.

Seriously, thank goodness people like him write what they actually think, so that it can, one hopes, bite them in the ass.

[Skittles]

37. let's hope it's not another "nazi tattoo moment"

[niyad]

40. Let us indeed hope.

[LeftInTX]

42. Oh no! I'm getting him and candidate in AZ mixed up....

Both are saying this same kind of stuff today!

The winner of this primary will be trying to unseat a Republican.

Lawrence can't win in the general.

He has two primary opponents.

I hope voters use common sense. This guy sounds like another Maureen Galindo.
Fortunately, she lost her primary.
She would have probably gotten like 20% in the general.

Sex therapist accused of antisemitism loses Democratic runoff for Texas House seat
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/26/garcia-wins-texas-house-runoff-00937479

[MorbidButterflyTat]

43. "...the white left..."

WTF.

How very progressive of him.

[sarisataka]

50. It is bizarre

that so many Progressive candidates keep saying un-progressive things.

[Cha]

87. I know, Stupid. Is that how they want

to be known? Addressed as the "White left"?

[RandySF]

53. The context sounds even worse.

[yardwork]

90. In context it's clear what he meant, and it's awful.

Complaining that Black voters keep white people from achieving their goals is.... a very familiar complaint but one we usually hear from MAGA.

[AloeVera]

56. Here is Lawrence's statement on X.

I want to address a comment of mine from two years ago that was reported today in the Huffington Post and has raised some concern. My words are being taken out of context and weaponized by my political opponents, and I want to set the record straight.

In 2024 I hosted a podcast series examining the disastrous history of US war and interventionism abroad, and how we can change it. This was prompted by my horror at the genocide in Gaza, which was and is supported by US weapons and tax dollars. Saying no to war is one of the core reasons for my run for Congress.

The episode reported today was an interview with a Black anti-war organizer about his vital work to organize Black Americans against the genocide. Because this episode was specifically focused on anti-war politics within the Black community, I noted that Black elected leaders in DC have been among those supporting unnecessary US wars and foreign intervention.

The way I made this point was clumsy, and I regret my choice of words. I understand the potential impact when received out of context. The way the story is being reported does not reflect my beliefs.

Allow me to clarify what I believe.

Black Americans are and have been at the forefront of the fight to realize the very best American ideals of freedom and justice for all. As a community organizer, I have been deeply inspired by the Black liberation struggle, and I've been blessed to study with elders including the late Rev James Lawson. Many Black elected leaders have also been among our strongest opponents to war, like when Rep Barbara Lee was the lone vote against authorizing the global war on terror in 2001.

That said, national elected leaders across race, ethnicity, age and gender have been supporters of unnecessary US wars. This poses a challenge to the anti-war movement.

Americans of all races and ages must work together to advance peace. Until we do, our resources will go to fund war and genocide abroad, rather than investing in affordable housing and healthcare, or closing the racial wealth gap. Our priorities as a nation are upside down, and I will continue to work closely with Black community leaders, and all people, to set our priorities straight.

[RandySF]

65. CYA

He’s not making it better.

[yardwork]

91. He can't walk back the fact that he singled out Black politicians and voters.

Now he says "Americans of all races and ages must work together to advance peace."

That statement is fine. He's opposed to America being involved in foreign wars. That's his right to have that opinion.

But in 2024 he pointedly singled out Black Americans as being in his way, "defanging white activists."

FWIW I think his position of isolationism is not good. I don't agree with it. He sounds like he wants the U.S. to drop military support for Ukraine and I'm totally opposed to that.

If he doesn't mean Ukraine then I'm not sure what else he could possibly be talking about but Israel. He should just come out and say it.

I'm very opposed to this isolationist talk coming from DSA and other self-appointed spokespeople for Democrats.

[Cha]

69. Lawrence has all the

Insult buzzwords down, but that is all he has.

If his insults were so innocent, why did he "apologize and say he now regrets it"?

[Keepthesoulalive]

76. I would like to thank those people on this forum who support the black community

Too many will turn their backs on us as soon as some supposed progressive says the things they want to hear. How many times have we been told to not discuss identity politics although they do it all the time. You guys give me hope. Maybe enough people will work with us instead of trying to discard us that we can fix our country but right now I think the far left and the right are starting to merge.

[yardwork]

104. You're welcome, and as usual, Black Americans are holding the line.

I will stand with you to hold the line because in my 60+ years in this flawed nation I've noticed that standing with Black Americans is the smartest, safest place to be.

To your last sentence: I think that the activist left and the right are starting to merge because they're funded by the same people. I'll name those people: Putin, Thiel, Musk, Zuckerberg, the Saudi royal family, etc.

The activist left has been co-opted by radical billionaires who are trying to seize control of all the earth's resources. They want total power. They are investing some of their billions to destroy democracy, destroy western alliances that have kept the peace, and destroy the U.S. from within. They are taking away healthcare and medical research. They want us dead.

Most of the people being manipulated by the billionaires don't know it.

The levers being used to manipulate people are racism and antisemitism, old vices that simmer beneath the surface in western culture.

It's clear as day to me.

[RandySF]

77. There's no walking back or dressing it up

He thinks Black members of Congress are “Uncle Toms”.

[Quiet Em]

78. There is a small but sadly growing segment on the left that seem to think they need to imitate MAGA to win

No.

Nobody is looking for that.

[yardwork]

105. Look at who is funding them.

[awesomerwb1]

88. Another "blow it all up" progressive

It's amazing how destructive these individuals can be.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

116. Kick

[lapucelle]

117. ...

[MorbidButterflyTat]

118. .

[Cha]

120. Aloha Kick